Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

6 reviews

donttouchmyfeet's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Police brutality

Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, and Death of parent

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was extremely interesting, and I think this book could be really helpful for young people who are wading into social justice issues. Would definitely read this author again - I really appreciated the extent of the world-building.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Racism

Moderate: Cancer, Confinement, Death, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

haylzno's review

challenging mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

High schoolers Effie and Tavia not only have to navigate their way through high school life as teenagers but also as mystical creatures that are often ostracized and discriminated against. The two girls use their sisterly bond to help each other through pressing times and personal changes. 

I very much enjoyed the magical realism of this book. I imagine that if sirens and serpents and gargoyles were incorporated in todays social atmosphere that it would be very much like this novel. Racism and xenophobia are always hard to read about but just it's important that these issues be talked about. 

I wish there was a tad more about the sirens outside of the high school POV, but overall I enjoyed this novel. The narrators were fantastic! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality, and Death of parent

fusielenf's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Moderate: Hate crime

aseel_reads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

2022: 5 ⭐

Not t sure why I didn't rate this higher the first time I read it, it's still absolutely brilliant and I have thought about this book all the time since reading it two years ago. It blended social critique, mythos, and family dynamics so well. 

2020: 4.25 ⭐

This was everything I never knew I needed. Just the real world/fantasy/mythology intersected with racial issues was *chef's kiss*. I love the sister bond we have and the writing was excellent. Honestly, just wish this was longer

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

talislibrary's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Whilst I think this YA was aimed at the lower end of that bracket, and therefore I was not the target audience, I did enjoy this story. In this multiple-perspective story, you follow Tavia and Effie who show that family doesn't need shared blood. Rich with mythology, A song below water introduces sirens, mermaids and more to our world. The ending was a little rushed for me, not giving me the satisfaction I wanted, but the rest of the book more than made up for it. Bonus - I learnt so much about caring for black hair which was a pleasant surprise!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Police brutality